Scott Mussell | Times PhotoChase Smith, left, lights his candle from the flame of Allyssa Kory, right, during a candlelight vigil and prayer service for Air Force 1st Lt. Robert D. Gerren at Gladwin High School.

GLADWIN - The crowd gathered Wednesday on the Gladwin High School track, where native son Robert D. Gerren had run as a high schooler.

As the sun faded, candles were lit and the 150 mourners walked around the track singing "Amazing Grace" and "God Bless America."

The candlelight vigil honored and remembered Air Force 1st Lt. Robert D. Gerren, who grew up in Gladwin and was killed Monday when the B-52 he was working aboard crashed off the coast of Guam. The U.S. Air Force said Wednesday there were no survivors.

"I'm very proud of the fact he was serving his country but there is, of course, also some pain," said Joseph Rowley, a Michigan State Police trooper who ran track with Gerren while they attended high school together in the 1990s. "It's difficult to express the concern and it's difficult to have closure, but this helps."

Wednesday night's vigil was a bittersweet reunion for Gerren's friends, classmates and other members of the community.

One couple in attendance, Daniel and Ilene Dixon of Gladwin, did not know Gerren or his family but still wanted to show their support.

Their son, Robert J. Dixon, was killed in Iraq 14 months ago.

"Gladwin really supported us when we brought our son back here," Ilene Dixon said. "We wanted to show our support to Robert and to his family."

The Dixons said it was important for them to be there because like their son, Gerren died serving his country.

None of Gerren's family was able to attend the vigil as they were on their way to the Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, La., where Gerren was stationed. The family asked Pastor Sam Wilson of Grace Baptist Church in Gladwin to thank everyone for their attendance, support and prayers.

Wilson, who coached Gerren when he played high school football, led the vigil and the prayers.

"I consider it an honor to be here tonight," Wilson said. "Bobby died flying; doing what he loved and he died serving our country."

Wilson urged the crowd to speak about Gerren and many did, sharing happy memories of Gerren's smile, his good attitude and what he will leave behind.

Thalma (Gadd) Hibbard and Amy (Herbin) Cain had only fond memories of their friend and neither could help but smile when they spoke of him.

"He was the good guy," Cain said. "He did his homework, he made his curfew, he was the responsible one."

Hibbard, of Swartz Creek, and Cain, of Shepherd, graduated from Gladwin High School in 1993, one year before Gerren, who graduated in 1994.

Both said Gerren was very popular and had many friends.

"He was very well liked," Hibbard said. "He was very sweet, very polite."

Gerren, 32, was a strong Christian, loved country music and had long dreamed of being a pilot. Gerren ran track and played football and hockey while he was in high school.

Erin Ervin, a high school friend of Gerren's, told the crowd that they should all remember what Gerren taught them, even if they did not realize the lessons while he was still around.

"Bob taught me that life goes on," Ervin said. "We are all going to learn something from Bob; we are all going to take something from him and his life."